A Kent MP says she is attempting to safeguard hundreds of jobs in her constituency after a major employer announced it would be furloughing a further 300 workers.

Ferry company P&O announced today that it would be making the move as it continues to struggle against the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement sees the total number of furloughed employees at the company rise to 1,400, after an initial 1,100 were stood down last month.

It is not known how many jobs at the Port of Dover will be affected by the latest announcement, but the company has said it will also lay up four ships on the Dover to Calais run.

With The Pride of Kent soon to cease travelling alongside the Seaway, Burgundy and Canterbury, only Dover's two largest vessels- the Spirit of France and Spirit of Britain- will maintain the freight sailings to and from the port.

Dover & Deal MP Natalie Elphicke today confirmed that she has held talks with both the company's chief executive and trade union leaders.

She said that she is aiming to both help secure a £150m rescue fund that the company is seeking from the government, and save local jobs.

She said "The cross-Channel ferry route will always play a massive and vital role in the nation’s trade.

“Over the last few weeks I have been making the case to Government to look carefully at what is needed to ensure the Port of Dover, ferry companies and hauliers in our area gets through this crisis so that they can continue to provide the good, medicines and resources we need as a nation."

The company's request for a bailout package came after parent company DP World came under fire for honouring a $332million dividend payout to its shareholders- despite P&O's fight for survival.

And Ms Elphicke says that the company must be willing to make commitments should its request be met.

She said: “P&O is already receiving taxpayer support through the Chancellor’s furlough scheme and the company are asking for substantial further financial support from Government."

"Dover is a key part of the vital national effort to defeat the virus"

"With taxpayer support must come a commitment to British jobs more generally, and to our Dover-Calais route in particular.

"Dover is a key part of the vital national effort to defeat the virus, and it will continue to play that vital role over the weeks and months ahead."

Janette Bell, Chief Executive Officer of P&O Ferries, said: “Given the current crisis, we are having to make some tough decisions to keep the business strong.

“In March, we suspended our passenger business and furloughed 1,100 employees, to focus on maintaining the flow of freight to and from Britain.

“Like other operators, we have been waiting for the UK government’s advice on what support they can give the industry, as well as what conditions they might want to apply on things like routes and supply lines.

“However, we’ve had nothing so far and we can’t wait, as the pressure on the business continues, so we have to act.

“Today we are announcing further changes to reshape our business to survive this crisis and be ready to thrive in the future.

“These changes include the laying up and redeployment of ships on our routes and we expect to furlough around 300 more of our people onto government schemes.

“Despite these changes, P&O Ferries remains critical to maintaining the UK’s supplies and a vital part of our ability as a country to respond to the ongoing threat of Covid-19.

“We are committed to delivering a healthy and sustainable P&O Ferries that will become an even more important strategic asset for the UK, helping families and freight move easily and affordably between Britain, Ireland and Europe.”

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